Moresby Primary School, Whitehaven
Moresby Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Whitehaven. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 11 schools in Whitehaven with published results, and 2,457th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cumberland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Moresby Primary School in detail
Moresby Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Ross Peacock, and I am the school's head teacher. Moresby Primary School is based in Moresby Parks, just outside Whitehaven. The children and staff work hard, but we also laugh together every day."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:30am and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at Moresby Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Cumberland and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 87% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Moresby Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Moresby Primary School as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Moresby Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Moresby Primary School are Bransty Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 63% reading, 52% maths); St Bridget's CofE School (1.1 miles, Good, 36% reading, 36% maths); St James' CofE Junior School (1.3 miles, Good, 82% reading, 85% maths); and St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School (1.4 miles, Good).
Moresby Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Bransty Primary SchoolSt Bridget's CofE SchoolSt James' CofE Junior SchoolSt James' CofE Infant and Nursery School
Who goes there
4.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 6 pupils (4.9%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Station Entrance, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Eden Drive (at), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22).
Suspensions and exclusions
Moresby Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Moresby Primary School are St Benedict's Catholic High School (1.3 miles) and The Whitehaven Academy (1.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
4.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 80% to 85% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 80% to 85% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
21.0
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Moresby Primary School
Exploring Our Local Community
30 Sep 2026
Exploring Flowering Plants in Science
28 Sep 2026
Class 1 and 2 Walkmill Workshops
28 Sep 2026
Stuart and Timmy the Tin Visit Us!
28 Sep 2026
Class 4 have been loving their Country Dancing sessions!
28 Sep 2026
A Lovely Visit from an Ex-Pupil
11 Sep 2026
From Moresby Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Moresby Primary School
Term dates
Moresby Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Cumberland. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Friday 16 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Moresby Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Moresby Primary School is in Cumberland; for families living there:
- Cumberland's school travel policy: Step by step guide of the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Cumberland is 5 (the median across 179 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Moresby Primary School
Will you get a place at Moresby Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Moresby Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Moresby Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Moresby Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cumberland, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Moresby Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Cumberland got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
106 pupils
105 places
1 pupil over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Whitehaven
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Whitehaven
Across Cumberland council
Places available
3,537
Applications
2,352
Got 1st preference
98.2%
Got preferred school
99.7%
All primary applications across Cumberland council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(11)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
6
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
4.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
122
Total Pupils
55
Boys
67
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,709
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,984
Per pupil
£687k
Total funding
£15k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.8%
Overall absence
2.2%
Persistent absence
92
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Moresby Primary School
Questions parents ask about Moresby Primary School
What are SATs results like at Moresby Primary School?
Of the pupils at Moresby Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% reached the expected standard in reading and 85% did so in maths.
What is Moresby Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Moresby Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Moresby Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Moresby Primary School is oversubscribed, Cumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Moresby Primary School?
Moresby Primary School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Moresby Primary School?
Classes at Moresby Primary School average 21 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Moresby Primary School?
Moresby Primary School has around 122 pupils on roll. 5% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Moresby Primary School?
2.8% of sessions were missed at Moresby Primary School in 2024/25. 2.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Moresby Primary School?
Apply through Cumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming Moresby Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
What are Moresby Primary School's term dates?
Moresby Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Cumberland. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Friday 16 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Moresby Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Cumberland is 5 (the median across 179 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Moresby Primary School?
Moresby Primary School is at School Brow, Moresby Parks, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 8UX.
Sources: Cumberland term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)